Electric discharge device



Feb. 9, 1932. FOULKE 1,844,353

ELECTRIC DI SCHARGE DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1928' ieies. to eieciric vices end pziriicidziriy to eiecscherg'e devices in which ceriis used. lciiier object er the invention is discharge device of this "type i continuously eiiiiifi radiations Another object is io provide on roiiirig i'jiie vepor pressure of Further ebjecits end edveii ::.vention Wiii from the ticoizir description oi one ere-- my iiiveiiiiori, or from an iii- 1e eccoiiipaiiyiiig drawing.

discharge devices of the "type 11 frequency magnetic field iii cc-iidenseiiie vepor cdry os heretofore produced have 1 ii iii ed in their use due "to the dense discj'eeree yieidiiig ir-7 er" an order ezieer than square ceiiiiiiie'ber coifdd iio'; (i therein for iong periods 0 imeu 3 input imo such e device duce the intense discharge iperst cf cury iiocreeses e. is reached, essure c esiiiy oi ris- M, em

L ELLE-W err iii'ied iherebjvv This hes been eccoinpiished iie use 025 condensing; ciieirdier comiecic discharge device into which idle herb wiper masses to ioe fimfldfiimedy {The ceii K161113253 is their reiniriied i 50 rhedischerge device iii iiiezislired quzmibiities to keep seid device suppiied "with ecoiisieiiiit source or vepoiu this manner die ve por pressure within the c'iierge device is maintained beiovv the Eiicsi vzdiie, iii spite of 'fiilfi i'zici 53km; energy is being impressed on izhe device in emoriiiis sidiicieiir e) produce the high pressure discharge ii iiie device were being epereibed 'f eiii'; she QUIQCiEIISiHfl iiriiizi flfiQOm'mRDLViHg view per ii iii seciiori iiT-iWBHiTi OZUQ e ii s fiiericei discharge chem is en eieve i ievice through the pesseges 3 end iiiie die cii A ermesr poirl chamber end ceiii. .euoiisy ascends 5371 d ciieirfoer to "poiiii vviiere ii: epeiis i rising ciieiiiher E2 ire rice tee of seid c1 ne'feer piss lopeiis iriio die cheiiiher 1i iris 1 ovvesi 1p01ilii3in seid chamber eiid e318: pr red fomi eeiiiciiiiierisiy desceieiiiie weird Where opens iiiio idle ceiidezssr the ibflifi 'fllflii ill mede of fused s diseeiid y iieiiipeieirriree iiie energy vice is operated.

" ceiideiisirig chamber 5% of era to die side iii? the cii i I in :4 i 181MB e cimirice soiiiciezei .J ioiigi, MUM tire e c by one erie-iieiirri'i inches seiisieciory fer e discharge ceiiimiiiiiceres "mile the coiideiisine' chem" The A Jdv Limb ' ber one and three-fourths inches in diameter.

, while still on the pump,

These dimensions are, however, given only for purposes of illustration. A coil 6, which is connected across a suitable hi h frequency electromotive force, is placed a out the discharge chamber 1 for the energization thereof. For self starting purposes the device preferablv contains a small quantity of one of the rare gases or any other inert gas, or a mixture thereof, as set forth in my pending application Serial No. 101,001 filed April 9, 1926.

In the manufacture of a device according to this invention the usual precautionsmust be taken to insure that the entire system is free of water vapor and occluded gases, the preferred method being to give the envelope a rough exhaust after which the desired amount of distilled mercury is placed therein. The device is then given its final exhaust, during which the temperature of the device is raised by means of applying a torch or baking in an oven. An induction discharge considerably above normal is set up in the device whereby certain impurities which tend to shorten the life of the device are removed. When the device has cooled the rare gas, if used, is admitted, and the device sealed off. The device is then ready for operation.

This device is then preferably mounted in such manner that it can be tilted. As shown a base 10 carries a vertical support member 11, at the upper end of which is the pivot 12 which supports the lever 13, thereby supporting the entire discharge device. A handle 15 is provided for the operation of the lever 13. The base 10 also carries an upright 16, which has near its top the serrations 17 arranged along a segment of a circle struck from the pivot 12. A spring dog 18 carried by the lever 13 engages these serrations and provides means for yieldably holdlng the lever 18 in any desired position.

During the operation of the devlce a d scharge is produced in the mercury vapor in the chamber 1 under the influence of the field produced by the coil 6. The hot mercury vapor tends to rise and thus passes through the passage 3 to the condensing chamber 2, which is relatively cool since it is some distance from the discharge. The vapor here condenses, the condensate collecting in the 1) pool 5. An equivalent amount of mercury has in the meantime passed through the passage 4 to the discharge chamber 1 to serve as a replacement for the evaporated mercury. In this way the level of the pool 5 is maintained and a constant supply of mercury is provided for the discharge chamber 1, regardless of the rate of evaporation. The vapor pressure thus maintained within the device during operation may be varied by tilting the device by means of the handle 15 whereby the amount of mercury protruding into the chamber 1 from the passage 4 is varied. The more mercury there is thus exposed to the discharge the higher the rate of evaporation becomes. The vapor pressure therefore increases until the rate of condensation, due to the higher operating temperature, increases to the point where it again equals the rate of evaporation. In like manner tilting the device in the opposite direction will decrease the vapor pressure. As a result of this means of control this device can be adapted to various rates of electrical input, atmospheric conditions and the like without structural change, a feature which is ofthe greatest importance.

Customary means for increasing or decreasing the rate of cooling of the chamber 2 could advantageously beiemployed to regulate the vapor pressure within the device. For example, an asbestos sheath might be placed about the chamber 2 to decrease the rate of cooling, and thereby increase the vapor pressure. while a metallic sheath with or without cooling fins might be employed to increase the rate of cooling and thereby decreasethe vapor pressure within the device.

While I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexed claims certain novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions in the forms, parts and details of the device illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An electromagnetic induction discharge device comprising a discharge chamber, a condensing chamber, a passage from the lower-part of said condensing'chamber to the lower part of said discharge chamber, mercury in said condensing chamber and'said passage, said mercury extending from said passage a short distance into said discharge chamber, and a passage for mercury vapor from the upper part of said discharge chamber to the upper part of said condensing chamber. a

2. In combination, a gaseous discharge device comprising a discharge chamber, a condensing chamber, a passage from the lower part of said discharge chamber to the lower part of said condensing chamber, a second chamber to the upper part of said condensing chamber, mercury in said device, and

assage from the upper part of said discharge means for varying the relative rate of evaporation and condensation of said mercury. 3. In combination, a gaseous discharge device comprising a discharge chamber, a condensing chamber, a passage from the lower part of said discharge chamber to the lower part of said condensing chamber, a second passage from the upper part of said discharge chamber to the upper part of said condensing chamber, mercury in said contill densing chamber and extending through said lower passage into said discharge chamber, and means for varying the amount of mercury extending into said discharge chamber.

4. The method of controlling the vapor pressure of a gaseous discharge device having a discharge chamber, a condensing surface, and a condensable vapor in said chamher. Which consists in varying the quantity of condensed vapor exposed to the discharge in said discharge chamber to vary the rate of evaporation thereof.

5. The method of operating an electric vapor discharge device which comprises producing an electromagnetic induction discharge in said vapor in a suitable discharge chamber, continuously condensing some of said vapor in a chamber remote from said discharge chamber, collecting said condensed vapor, and returning it to said discharge chamber through an opening in the bottom thereof.

6. The method of operating an electric vapor discharge device which comprises producing a discharge in said vapor in a suitable discharge chamber, continuously condensing some of said vapor in a chamber remote from said discharge chamber, collecting said condensed vapor, returning it to said dischargechamber through an opening in the bottom thereof, and varying the amount of said condensed vapor exposed to the discharge to vary the rate of evaporation thereof.

Signed at Hoboken in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey this first day of December, A. D. 1928.

TED EUGENE FOULKE. 

